Author: BOIARDO (Matteo Maria):
Title: Orlando Innamorato di Matteo Ma. Bojardo rifatto da Francesco Berni.
Description: Venezia Presso Sebastiano Valle, Con Licenza de Superiori e Privilgio 1799. 5 volumes. 12mo, 154 x 89 mms., pp. [vi], 356 + 13 engraved vignettes; [vi], 312 + 14 engraved vignettes; [vi], 330; [vi], 324 + 14 engraved vignettes; [vi], 309 [310 blank] + 14 engraved vignettes, contemporary calf, gilt spines, red and green morocco lables; some slight wear to bindings, but generally a very good and attractive set, with the Porkington library bookplate on the front paste-down end-paper of each volume. The Italian Renaissance poet Matteo Maria Boiardo (1440 – 1494) composed and published this epic poem between 1483 and 1495; the first two books were published sometime between 1482 and 1483. It served as a model for Ariosto's Orland Furioso, and the subject matter derives from the Fabulous Chronicle of the pseudo-Turpin. "Boiardo's poem suffers from the incurable defect of a laboured and heavy style. His story is skilfully constructed, the characters are well drawn and sustained throughout; many of hte incidents show a power and fertility of imagination not inferior to that of Arisoto, but the perfect workmanship indispensable for a great work of art is wanting. The poem in its original shape was not popular, and has been superseded by by the Rifacimento of Francesco Berni" (Encyclopedia Britannica). The latter is in fact a recasting of Boiardo's poem. The success of Berni's Rifacimento was so great that the original text by Boiardo fell into oblivion for three centuries. Only in the nineteenth century did Anthony Panizzi discover in the British Museum Library the authentic Orlando Innamorato and publish it.

Keywords: poetry epic literature


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